"How's it going?"
In the research facility established for Tōsen Kaname within the Palace of the Night, I was assisting with research in the control room filled with countless incubators when I heard two sets of footsteps approaching.
"Captain Aizen, Captain Ichimaru. It's been a while."
"This way, Captain Aizen."
Turning around with Tōsen, I greeted Aizen-sama and Ichimaru. It was rare to encounter these two in Hueco Mundo. However, since the experimental subject in question was nearing completion of its growth phase, it was expected that the sharp-eared Aizen-sama would arrive.
"The fundamental theory has been proven through experiments on most test subjects. We're currently preparing for the final experiment to advance to the next stage."
"Rather than using unstable bacterial-type subjects that cannot act independently, what if we simply parasitize Hollows that have already been completed as spiritual forms? We can finally test that concept on an actual modified Hollow."
"Oh my, did Momo-chan come up with that? You're still adorable, but quite frightening too."
"Ugh, you're so noisy. My face is perfectly normal, and it has nothing to do with anything..."
Grinning mischievously, Ichimaru-san seems to have been influenced by Aizen-sama lately and has developed a habit of teasing me. I express my displeasure and turn away with flushed cheeks. For the record, this idea came from a hint I gave to Tōsen, who was struggling with his research on bacterial-type spirits, based on my knowledge of the original story. Incidentally, Hinamori-chan's facial deviation value is the highest in the BLEACH universe.
"Interesting."
A deep, chilling voice echoes through the control room. It's Aizen-sama, staring intently at the incubator where the experimental subjects are being cultivated.
"I assumed the optimal method to prevent soul suicide was infiltration and fusion with bacterial-type Hollows possessing small spiritual particle masses, but I never anticipated you'd consider directly merging an independent adult Hollow with a soul."
"Impressive, Momo."
The sadistic glasses-wearing man turns to me with an incredibly delighted smile. It feels like he's seen right through everything, but I was merely offering casual hints to Tōsen, who's overwhelmed with squad leader duties and Hollow research—using the phrase "like a spirit entering a prosthetic body" when discussing the parasitic Hollow concept. My presence here could potentially disrupt a crucial event from the original storyline. Since I didn't state it directly and covered my tracks properly, there's nothing to feel guilty about.
So I simply play dumb.
"...Huh, me? I'm just doing menial tasks here..."
"No, your casual observations often illuminate important points. I didn't bring you here repeatedly just for menial labor. Have confidence, Hinamori."
But once again, Tōsen's innocent praise won't let me escape! On the surface, a pure, admiring smile; behind it, two evil crescent-shaped grins. You two aren't collaborating, are you?
However, I'm not the type to admit defeat so easily. Behold this natural, pure Hinamori move.
"Oh, really...? Um, thank you..."
"Hmph, I'm counting on you."
As I shrank my shoulders defensively, Tōsen was replaced by Aizen-sama, who snorted derisively. Hey, what's so amusing? I'm genuinely embarrassed, so mocking a woman trying to act modest is disrespectful and unbecoming.
"Very well, Tōsen, I'll leave the remaining experimental preparations to you."
"Understood."
Satisfied with the research progress on Hollowfication, or perhaps satisfied with his usual teasing of Hinamori, exits the control room accompanied by Ichimaru. But just as I'm about to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking the crisis has passed, this man returns to torment me once more.
"—Ah, that's right, Momo."
"...!"
I let my guard down again, despite this being the second time. I glared at Ichimaru, who was smirking, then forced myself to respond calmly.
"...What is it?"
"I want you to name this plan."
Aizen smiled ominously and urged, "Tell me whatever comes to mind."
Hmph, this is probably another trap. Lately, I've been making no effort to hide my poor acting skills—or rather, my mediocre intellect, so those initial mysterious expectations of me as some prodigy should have faded by now... But perhaps it's because I don't fully understand the original story. Aizen-sama is backing me, and while I'm not desperately trying to conceal everything, if my secret gets out, my added value would vanish.
...Yeah, sorry, I just want to hide it like any normal person would.
However, thinking about it now, based on the original story, while I don't believe it exists, perhaps in Aizen-sama's mind, the name for this modified Hollow has already been decided. If that's the case, revealing "Metastacia" from the original manga would be dangerous. If I give the correct answer, there's no way to backpedal.
But I don't want to assign some random name either, so I'll use this lesser-known alias for the Hollow as cover.
Either way, this parasitic Hollow research will ultimately lead to Aizen-sama's downfall through Ichigo's White. I'll name it as a small act of ironic defiance.
"Understood. Then..."
This name should make Kubo-sensei smile, right?
"—'White.'"
The day of the experiment.
After numerous complications, I finally managed to advance the plan this far. Tōsen and I were staring at the screen beside each other, both looking as if our souls had been drained. On screen, Metastacia, now renamed White—was manipulating the female Shinigami, Shiba Tōsō, racing through the forests of Rukongai. The original storyline was proceeding smoothly.
That said, Tōsen and I were exhausted for different reasons. He was simply tired, while I was disappointed as a Hollow researcher.
"—Could it really only manage such childish tricks?"
"Come on, Tōsen. The ability itself functioned, so don't be so dejected."
Tōsen responded to my consolation with a massive sigh.
The "success" he refers to is the destruction of the boundary between Shinigami and Hollows. Despite various modifications, all White-kun could achieve was parasitism, host manipulation, and the ability to seal a Zanpakutō's initial release. While "merging with a spiritual body" sounds impressive, it's essentially a complete failure. This won't even enable Hollowfication.
That said, from my perspective, the failed White-kun is actually more successful in terms of the original timeline, so I'm genuinely relieved.
The real problem isn't White-kun itself; it's creating the proper "scenario" to let him shine. Thanks to our leader's signature directive of "Do whatever you wish," we ended up having to plan almost everything ourselves, and each time, I had to explain to him why we were doing it.
Me.
"I'm terribly sorry for displaying such a failure before Aizen-sama..."
"It's fine, Tōsen."
The one comforting him despite his perceived inadequacy is Aizen-sama, who rushed back after completing the Fifth Division's duties. He even brought along the busy Vice-Captain Ichimaru, and they're both practically glowing like elementary school students on a field trip. Though that's just the reflection from their glasses.
But our final boss wasn't looking at White-kun on the screen. He was looking at me, the one who had orchestrated this scene from the original work.
"...What are you scheming?"
"Nothing? I'm simply looking forward to this."
...I thought I had concealed it, but Aizen-sama is formidable. He must have detected my unconscious resolve. He definitely knows that something significant is about to occur in this experiment, and he wants to observe our reactions to it.
Why use the Thirteenth Division soldiers for the experiment? Why choose the vice-captain from the Shiba family as the test subject? And then, out of nowhere, he casually states the correct deduction: "I recall he was close to the adopted daughter of the Kuchiki family, wasn't he?" Please spare me.
I managed to maintain my composure and explain it logically, but thinking back, he was probably enjoying watching my desperate attempt to remain calm. Damn it, if I can't make him scream "Hinamori!" I'll laugh when Ichigo defeats you and you transform into Butterflaizen...!
"It's begun."
"!"
Tōsen's words pull me from my sea of resentment. On screen, Kaien-dono was resolved to avenge his late wife, engaging White in battle. And a little distance away were Rukia and the others...
I couldn't help but stare at the screen intently. One of the most iconic scenes from the original work was about to unfold. Nearly all of it had been orchestrated by me.
Confronted with that reality, I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement and omnipotence, as if I were a deity capable of manipulating the world at will.
And just slightly...
"The Shikai nullification was successful. It's fortunate the effect was confirmed even against a captain-class opponent."
"Yes..."
I respond mechanically to Tōsen's observation. Kaien, having lost his Zanpakutō, counters with abandoned Kidō incantations, but White's cunning tactics gradually wear him down. The outcome is already determined. Everything proceeds exactly as in the original work.
The battle between the two ended in an instant, and White entered Shiba Kaien's mouth. After a moment of silence, the brutal and depraved Hollow seized control of the man's consciousness and rampaged through the surrounding squad members. Captain Ukitake Jūshirō was unable to move due to his illness. All hope was lost.
And Shiba Kaien, standing motionless in despair, lunged at Rukia—
"Do you regret it?"
I snapped back to reality at the deep voice beside me.
When I turned, there stood the final boss, Aizen Sōsuke, observing me with a cold, testing gaze and that familiar smile. I stared back at his figure, identical to when we first met, and pondered the meaning of his words.
Does "regret" refer to the events that just transpired?
If so—I'll answer "no" with a smile.
What I feel isn't regret, but guilt over taking a life. It was my first time, and I harbored no malicious intent, I acted because I believed it was "correct." Even though I feel guilty about the murder, there's no way I could regret it.
The original characters died as they did in the source material, and I was the architect. As a devoted fan, isn't that a tremendous honor? Resisting the original story by wanting the original characters to survive is one path, but if I chose that route, it would merely be hypocrisy.
If I'm going to act like a saint and prevent the original story's iconic scene, I'd rather freely disrupt everything around me and revel in the chaos.
I look at Aizen again. Why did he pose such a question? What psychology drives that probing gaze?
—I act solely to crush those who seek to dominate me.
A man of such unwavering confidence and ambition, the very embodiment of self-improvement. The unparalleled sense of security I felt when he became an ally in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc remains fresh in my memory. There is no doubt that Aizen Sōsuke represents the greatest charismatic figure in the BLEACH universe. There can be no dissent.
But why, when I gaze into Aizen-sama's eyes now...
—do I feel a chill run down my spine?
I can't help but curve my lips upward.
Recalling the oath he made with Tōsen in the novels, Aizen Sōsuke surprisingly possesses ordinary human emotions. The man who smiled warmly and invited me to join him, knowing my "unpredictable" knowledge of the original work, is now questioning whether I regret having fallen into the same depravity as him.
Could it be? Is it really true, as Ichigo claimed, that there's nothing but loneliness within him?
"—That's right."
"...Hmm."
I'm sorry, Aizen-sama. I'll apologize if I'm mistaken.
But if it's true...
If this stylish mastermind, who tormented me so thoroughly, harbors such an endearing vulnerability...
"Perhaps I am regretting it."
—There's no way any member of the Aizen Appreciation Society could ignore such a dejected Aizen-sama, right?!
Looking back, that was probably my way of getting revenge on Aizen-sama.
I wanted to follow the original story, but the original character wasn't cooperating.
Because he's such an important character in the narrative, my preconceptions and expectations got ahead of me, and I felt resentful that his role was being forced upon him. The displeasure of being insulted with the misunderstanding of "regret" regarding everything I'd constructed until that point. And the shame and humiliation of constantly being treated like a plaything by him.
It seems I possessed more pride than the average person, seeking momentary satisfaction through such a reckless performance.
Silence.
A powerful sense of déjà vu flashes through my mind. As I gradually regain my composure, I regret my lack of acting ability, quite literally.
"—Momo."
The twisted Ichimaru, sweating coldly with a forced smile, and the pure Tōsen, furrowing his brows as he attempts to read between the lines. And me, studying the other person's expression, trembling with fear at my own blunder, tears welling in my eyes.
The man, bearing the weight of all those gazes, released spiritual pressure so intense it seemed to warp the equipment in the control room, and with the most terrifying smile I'd ever witnessed, he whispered to me.
"—You remain fascinating, don't you?"
***
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